By Elinor Bugli
On Saturday, May 9, Carson City Symphony’s Strings in the Schools will present a Festival for Harmonicas and Strings at Empire Elementary School, 1260 Monte Rosa Drive, Carson City. The half-day event includes a workshop from 9:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for string players of all ages, a potluck lunch, and a public concert beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Artists in residence for the festival are Carson City Symphony Education Director Sue Jesch, conductor; Idaho composer Gary Edwards, bass player; and Tom Stryker, harmonica player. Hohner Inc., USA, has donated 12 chromatic harmonicas, which selected students from the STRAZZ advanced string ensemble are learning to play. Festival participants will learn and perform original music for harmonica and string orchestra by Edwards.
The public concert features a lecture-demonstration by Stryker about the harmonica, performances by workshop participants with Stryker on harmonica and Edwards on bass, and a jazz combo.
This festival is supported by public funds through the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, and by private donations.
String players of all ages who would like to participate in the festival must register in advance. Admission to the festival and the concert is free, donations welcome. For more information, schedule, reservations, and music, call Sue Jesch at 775-540-5584.
